RivCo Special Election To Decide Who Will Fill Essayli's Assembly Seat

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Riverside County voters will decide Tuesday who will fill the 63rd Assembly District seat and represent a wide swath of the county.

The seat was left vacant earlier this spring when President Donald Trump appointed Assemblymember Bill Essayli to serve as U.S. Attorney.

In late May, tens of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots made their way to voters ahead of the June 24 Special Primary Election. If no one gets a majority of the vote in June, the top two candidates will face off in an Aug. 26 runoff.

The new 63rd District assemblymember will represent Norco, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake as well as parts of Eastvale, Riverside and Corona.

Here are the four candidates who will compete next week:

• Chris Shoults (Democrat), a business owner and educator
• Natasha Johnson (Republican), a Lake Elsinore councilmember and business owner
• Vincent Romo (Republican), a history professor and former athlete
• Zachary T. Consalvo (Libertarian), a businessman and public servant

Johnson, who announced her candidacy on April 3, pledged to bring “common sense” back to Sacramento. The Republican has already received an endorsement from Essayli and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is running for governor in 2026.

"I've selected Natasha because I know that she is a fighter and she will carry on my message and the battles that we've had in Sacramento whether that's on public safety or parental rights," Essayli said.

"What an honor to continue to serve and keep the charge going for Assemblyman Essayli," she said.

Meanwhile, Shoults has emphasized his focus on lowering the cost of living, education reform and economic diversity.

"No more self-serving political agendas and partisan games," Shoults said in a statement. "It's time for real leadership and representation that puts people first."

Romo, who says he's self-funding his campaign, described himself as a data-driven outsider ready to challenge the establishment.

"My candidacy is not about power, but representation by the people, for the people," he wrote in a statement on Wednesday.

Consalvo says he is the only candidate with experience across education, poverty alleviation, community outreach, agriculture, and government. His platform centers on sweeping reforms to improve government transparency and community representation. He proposes annual tax audits, salary caps for local officials, and restrictions on government retirees working as consultants.

When And Where To Vote In the Special Election

Election Day: Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Vote-by-Mail Ballots:

• Mailed to 315,000 registered voters on May 27.
• Must be postmarked by June 24 and received by July 1.
• No postage necessary.
• Can be returned by mail, at official drop boxes, or at any vote center within District 63.

Drop Box & Vote Center Info:

• Two 24-hour drop boxes are available at: 2720 & 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside.

In-Person Voting:

• Early Voting: May 27 through Election Day Monday, Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays)
• Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Riverside County Registrar’s office.

Registration Deadline:

• Must have registered or updated info by June 9.
• Register online at registertovote.ca.gov or call (951) 486-7200 for a paper application.